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How to Install Yclas on Ubuntu: Step-by-Step Guide

Richard

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Yclas is a PHP-based open-source platform, useful for creating classified websites. Installing it involves several steps, including installing Apache2 HTTP Server and MariaDB Database Server, setting up PHP 7.2, configuring Apache2 and creating a Yclas CMS Database. Once the necessary tools are installed and configurations set, Yclas is easily installed on Ubuntu servers.

Yclas (Open Classifieds) is a free, open-source PHP-based platform allowing web admins and anyone to easily create and build classified websites and listings on their self-hosted servers.

The Open-Source version is free to download and use. It has an intuitive user interface, granularly administers users and groups, and a responsive design that supports all modern devices.

This fast and lightweight platform gives web admins modular and extensible features via plugins to collaborate and automate engaging experiences with users across multiple devices, including mobile.

For more about Yclas, please check their Homepage

To get started with installing Yclas, follow the steps below:

Install Apache2 HTTP Server

Yclas requires a web server, and the Apache2 HTTP server is the most popular open-source web server available today. To install the Apache2 server, run the commands below:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2

After installing Apache2, the commands below can be used to stop, start, and enable the Apache2 service to always start up with the server boots.

sudo systemctl stop apache2.service
sudo systemctl start apache2.service
sudo systemctl enable apache2.service

Now that Apache2 is installed, browse your browser to the URL below to test whether the web server works.

http://localhost
Apache2 Test Page

If you see the page above, then Apache2 is successfully installed.

Install MariaDB Database Server

Yclas also requires a database server to store its content. MariaDB is a great place to start if you want a genuinely open-source database server. To install MariaDB, run the commands below:

sudo apt-get install mariadb-server mariadb-client

After installing MariaDB, the commands below can be used to stop, start, and enable the MariaDB service to always start up when the server boots.

Run these on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS

sudo systemctl stop mysql.service
sudo systemctl start mysql.service
sudo systemctl enable mysql.service

Run these on Ubuntu 18.10 and 18.04 LTS

sudo systemctl stop mariadb.service
sudo systemctl start mariadb.service
sudo systemctl enable mariadb.service

Next, run the commands below to secure the database server with a root password if you were not prompted to do so during the installation.

sudo mysql_secure_installation

When prompted, answer the questions below by following the guide.

  • Enter current password for root (enter for none): Just press the Enter
  • Set root password? [Y/n]: Y
  • New password: Enter the password
  • Re-enter new password: Repeat password
  • Remove anonymous users? [Y/n]: Y
  • Disallow root login remotely? [Y/n]: Y
  • Remove test database and access to it? [Y/n]:  Y
  • Reload privilege tables now? [Y/n]:  Y

Once MariaDB is installed, run the commands below to test whether the database server was installed.

sudo mysql -u root -p

Type the root password when prompted.

mariadb welcome

The server was successfully installed if you see a similar screen.

Install PHP 7.2 and Related Modules

Yclas is a PHP-based CMS, and PHP is required. However, PHP 7.2 may not be available in Ubuntu’s default repositories. To run PHP 7.2 on Ubuntu 16.04 and previous, you may need to run the commands below:

sudo apt-get install software-properties-common
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php

Then update and upgrade to PHP 7.2

sudo apt update

Next, run the commands below to install PHP 7.2 and related modules.

sudo apt install php7.2 libapache2-mod-php7.2 php7.2-common php7.2-mysql php7.2-gmp php7.2-curl php7.2-intl php7.2-mbstring php7.2-xmlrpc php7.2-gd php7.2-soap php7.2-xml php7.2-cli php7.2-zip

After installing PHP 7.2, run the commands below to open the PHP default configuration file for Apache2.

sudo nano /etc/php/7.2/apache2/php.ini

The lines below are good settings for most PHP-based CMS. Update the configuration file with these and save.

file_uploads = On
allow_url_fopen = On
short_open_tag = On
memory_limit = 256M
upload_max_filesize = 100M
max_execution_time = 360
date.timezone = America/Chicago

Every time you change the PHP configuration file, you should restart the Apache2 web server. To do so, run the commands below:

sudo systemctl restart apache2.service

Once PHP is installed, create a test file called phpinfo.php in the Apache2 default root directory to test whether it’s functioning. ( /var/www/html/)

sudo nano /var/www/html/phpinfo.php

Then, type the content below and save the file.

<?php phpinfo( ); ?>

Next, open your browser and browse to the server’s hostname or IP address, followed by phpinfo.php

http://localhost/phpinfo.php

You should see the PHP default test page.

PHP Test Page

Create Yclas CMS Database

Now that you’ve installed all the packages required for Yclas to function. Continue below to start configuring the servers.

First, run the commands below to create a blank Yclas database.

To log on to the MariaDB database server, run the commands below.

sudo mysql -u root -p

Then, create a database called yclas

CREATE DATABASE yclas;

Create a database user called yclasuser with a new password

CREATE USER 'yclasuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'new_password_here';

Then grant the user full access to the database.

GRANT ALL ON yclas.* TO 'yclasuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'repeat_password_here' WITH GRANT OPTION;

Finally, save your changes and exit.

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Download Yclas Latest Release

To get Yclas’ latest release, you may want to go and download it from its download page. Or use the commands below to use wget and get it downloaded.

Once downloaded, extract the downloaded content into the newly created Yclas directory.

cd /tmp
wget https://github.com/yclas/yclas/archive/master.zip
unzip master.zip
sudo mv yclas-master /var/www/html/yclas

Next, run the commands below to set the correct permissions for the Yclas root directory and give Apache2 control.

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/yclas/
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/yclas/

Configure Apache

Finally, configure the Apache2 site configuration file for Yclas. This file will control how users access Yclas content. Run the commands below to create a new configuration file called yclas. conf

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/yclas.conf

Then copy and paste the content below into the file and save it. Replace the highlighted line with your domain name and directory root location.

<VirtualHost *:80>
     ServerAdmin [email protected]
     DocumentRoot /var/www/html/yclas
     ServerName example.com
     ServerAlias www.example.com

     <Directory /var/www/html/yclas/>
          Options FollowSymlinks
          AllowOverride All
          Require all granted
     </Directory>

     ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
     CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

Save the file and exit.

Enable the Yclas and Rewrite Module

After configuring the VirtualHost above, please enable it by running the commands below.

sudo a2ensite yclas.conf
sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo systemctl restart apache2.service

Then open your browser and browse to the server domain name. You should see the Yclas setup wizard complete. Please follow the wizard carefully.

http://example.com

Then, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup. Select the installation language and validate that all requirements are met. Then continue.

Yclass Ubuntu Install

Next, enter your database name, username, and password, and continue.

Yclass Ubuntu Setup

After that, create a root password to manage the backend and complete the installation.

Yclass Ubuntu install

Log on to the backend with the username root and the password you created above.

Yclass Ubuntu Install

Once the installation is completed, removing the ‘install’ directory is recommended for security reasons.

sudo rm -rf /var/www/html/yclas/install/

Congratulation! You have successfully installed Yclas on Ubuntu 16.04 | 18.04.

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Richard Avatar
Richard
Richard, the owner and lead writer at Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast passionate about simplifying complex IT topics. His years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations have honed his ability to provide practical insights and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He’s deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions. He enjoys watching football, cheering for the Minnesota Vikings, and spending time with his family when he’s not writing or managing Geek Rewind.
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